Chapter 221 Newspaper Serial
In the evening, everyone gathered in the small living room.
The newspaper was passed around among the people, along with Maomao's story.
Everyone in the family knew that Lou Yansui was writing stories, but only Mao Mao listened to the whole thing.
Right now, the ladies gathered together, heads close together, reading a new story he had written. Xia Xiaoxiang couldn't recognize all the characters yet, so the second concubine read it to her softly.
“I had heard Fourth Young Master read it once before and I found it interesting. I never expected that even Shen Zhaolin would take a liking to it.”
"If Mao Mao likes the stories written by the Fourth Young Master so much, how bad could they be?"
"That's right, our fourth young master is smart, good at studying, and also the best at writing stories."
Lou Heming closed the manuscript and said, "I support you, Asui. Your story is very well written, no worse than those fairy tales on the market. You can boldly publish it in the newspaper."
Lou Fengju raised an eyebrow: "Shall I make a call and contact a publishing house for you?"
Lou Hongjian raised his hand and volunteered: "A-Sui, I can help you with the illustrations, and I'll only charge you a special price."
With his brothers so supportive, Lou Yansui felt even more embarrassed, rubbing his fingers on the fabric of his pants. "I haven't decided yet whether or not to submit my work."
"Vote! Why not vote?"
General Lou was grinning from ear to ear, his loud laughter echoing as he exclaimed, "Shen Zhaolin certainly has good taste! My son, Lou Wenshan's son, writes better than those worthless writers! Haha! I never imagined our Lou family could produce such a great literary figure!"
Lou Yansui: "Dad, you're exaggerating."
What great writer? At most, he could only write a short story.
The serious wrinkles on Old Madam Lou's face relaxed: "Ah Sui, there's no need to be modest."
“I also think, Ah Sui, you write very well.” The First Madam also held a story and looked at it with a smile. “Even Teacher Shen said it was good, which shows that our Ah Sui has a talent for writing. I think that Maomao’s story will definitely be a bestseller after it is published.”
Mao Mao raised her little hand and chimed in, "Big sale!"
Big white cat: "Meow~"
“Ah Sui, look, even Mao Mao says it’s good.”
Lou Heming said gently, "Mao Mao likes your stories so much, don't you want Mao Mao to receive one of your storybooks?"
Lou Yansui was immediately tempted upon hearing this.
Should we compile his stories into a book and give it to Mao Mao?
Mao Mao tilted her head up with bright eyes and said, "Brother, Mao Mao wants it!"
Without much hesitation, Lou Yansui immediately nodded in agreement: "Okay, I'll submit the article in a few days!"
"A few days?" Commander Lou was even more anxious than him. He immediately called his adjutant: "I'll have someone send your story to the newspaper right now. It will be published first thing tomorrow morning!"
Lou Yansui shook her head repeatedly: "No, I need to revise and polish it again."
"Revise?" Commander Lou: "In my opinion, it's already perfectly written!"
Lou Yansui shook her head.
His family supported him, but Lou Yansui was self-aware that his story was not perfect.
Especially the first few pieces, because they were my first time writing, were very rough around the edges. Looking back now, I can see many shortcomings.
Since he was going to submit the article, he spent several days revising and polishing the parts he was not satisfied with, and then rewrote it according to the newspaper's submission requirements. Only after compiling a portion of it did he send the manuscript to the newspaper.
He didn't ask Shen Zhaolin to pass it on, wanting to see just how strong he was and whether he had met the standard.
After sending the manuscript out, Lou Yansui put the matter out of her mind and continued going to school and writing stories as usual. Even if it wasn't accepted, it didn't matter; after all, she had a loyal young reader at home.
But Mao Mao couldn't wait.
As her brother's first little reader, Maomao was even more excited than her brother himself to have her story published.
Every morning, as soon as she opens her eyes, she jumps out of bed and runs outside with her short legs. After breakfast, she sits at the door, eagerly waiting for the postman to drop the mail into the mailbox.
Mao Mao can't read, so whenever a letter comes in her mailbox, she shouts "Mother!"
"Mother—"
"Mother—"
Mao Mao ran in happily, holding up a letter: "There's another letter!"
Xia Xiaoxiang didn't know more words than her, so the third concubine took it first.
"Let me see, the recipient... oh!" The third concubine raised her delicately arched eyebrows high: "It's a letter from the newspaper, addressed to the fourth young master!"
Mao Mao immediately started climbing the stairs with a "heave-ho!": "Brother, brother, your letter has arrived!"
Today is Saturday. Not only Lou Yansui, but also Lou Heming is at home. As soon as the little baby called out, the whole family rushed over.
The letter reached Lou Yansui's hands, and under everyone's watchful eyes, he nervously opened it. Inside the envelope were two sheets of paper; he unfolded one of them first—a reply from the newspaper.
The notice stated that his submission had been accepted and would soon be serialized in the children's section of the newspaper, with each installment containing 1,000 words.
The other one was a draft for royalties.
The payment was low because I was a newcomer with no achievements; I only received two yuan per thousand words.
It may not seem like much, but it greatly excited everyone.
"I knew it! Asui would be fine!"
"This newspaper has good taste!"
"Once this newspaper is published, I'm going to buy a hundred copies and send them to all my friends."
"Haha, I never expected that our family would produce a scholar."
Lou Hongjian looked at the manuscript fee draft over and over. It was two yuan per thousand words. Lou Yansui had initially submitted a manuscript of ten thousand words, and the manuscript fee on the draft was twenty yuan.
"That's too little." Lou Hongjian counted on his fingers: "1,000 words per issue, two yuan per thousand words. Even if it's serialized every day, it's only 60 yuan a month."
60 yuan isn't even enough for a suit for him.
Lou Heming gave him a gentle look: "Ah Hong, when I first started working at the hospital, my monthly salary was only 50 yuan."
"..."
Lou Hongjian manually zipped up his mouth.
"Isn't 1,000 words a day too much?" the first wife asked with concern.
Lou Yansui shook her head: "It's alright, I can write it."
He started creating stories about Maomao last year and has accumulated a large backlog of manuscripts, enough to post every day for several months.
Moreover, the serialization is not necessarily long-lasting; it depends on the subsequent reader response. If the response is not good, the serialization may be canceled.
Lou Fengju was somewhat critical: "Why not just publish it directly?"
"I'm a newcomer, I have no reputation, and even if I publish a book directly, there's no guarantee anyone will buy it." Lou Yansui held the newspaper reply, read it over and over, and couldn't help but smile with delight: "Being able to publish in the newspaper is already pretty good, Mao Mao."
Mao Mao immediately responded, "Brother!"
"Would you like some cream cake?" Lou Yansui flicked the manuscript fee draft and said with a beaming smile, "I received the manuscript fee for Maomao's story. I'll take you to a Western restaurant for cream cake."
"Go, Mao Mao!"
"Okay, let's set off now."
The brothers exchanged glances.
Lou Hongjian took a step forward: "A-Sui, I want one too."
Lou Heming: "Me too."
Lou Fengju commanded, "Ah Hong, go drive the car."
Lou Yansui looked around excitedly and said, "The whole family should come! It's my treat!"
Mao Mao: "Yay!"
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